2011 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE20-018 on November 5th, 2020, to investigate fuel leak allegations in vehicles equipped with fuel tank outlet flange Part Number AH229039AB. ODI based the investigation on six consumer complaints it had received and, using information gathered from RQ19-004, five field reports and 200 warranty claims in the subject vehicles. At the closing date of PE20-018, the number of related complaints received by ODI has risen to fifteen. In response to an ODI Information Request (IR) letter, Land Rover identified: 57 additional warranty claims (257 total), four additional consumer complaints (ten total), and five dealer field reports.Land Rover?s internal investigation identified a cyclic fuel pressure condition that led to cracks forming in the outlet flanges, resulting in fuel leaks. Fuel tank outlet flange revisions to the subject AH229039AB component increased the rigidity of the outlet flange in the area experiencing the highest stress. As Land Rover continued to assess field returned components, they identified cracks in the vicinity of subsurface voids in the subsequent AH229039AC and AH229039AD fuel tank outlet flanges.Based on the information gathered, Land Rover`s Recall Determination Committee (RDC) elected to recall vehicles with the subject fuel outlet flange and expanded the scope to include all vehicles equipped with fuel outlet flange Part Numbers AH229039AA, AH229039AB, AH229039AC, and AH229039AD. Land Rover will replace the previously listed part numbers with an updated designwhich reduces the pressures exerted on the fuel flange. Recall 21V-635 (covering MY2010-2013 Range Rover Sport and MY2010-2016 LR4 vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 or 5.0L V8 engines) was reported to NHTSA on February 16, 2021. An interim owner notification letter was distributed in October 2021 alerting owners to the defect and the availability of like for like replacements until the remedy parts become available. Land Rover has indicated that remedy parts will become available in the second quarter of 2022. Correspondence from the fuel outlet flange supplier (Vitesco Technologies) indicated that the components at issue in this investigation were sold exclusively to Land Rover.This Preliminary Evaluation has been closed due to the recall issued by the manufacturer (NHTSA Recall 21V-635). The fifteen consumer complaints reports cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 11122159, 11155570, 11156894, 11220260, 11255901, 11280630, 11337853, 11375884, 11383192, 11388329, 11420940, 11423024, 11428966, 11431744,11440020.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaints received from the public and complaint data submitted by Jaguar Land Rover North America (JLR) in response to the Information Request (IR) letter for PE20-007. ODI identified a total of 132 non-duplicative reports alleging incidents in which the spoiler cover detached from the certain Range Rover vehicles while in motion, including 3 resulting in broken windshields, 6 involving detached spoilers striking trailing vehicles with damage unknown, and 4 in which the subject vehicle driver observed trailing traffic swerve to avoid the detached part. ODI?s analysis of warranty data submitted by JLR identified 266 claims to repair detached spoiler covers and 252 claims to repair loose covers. The subject vehicles are covered by a standard warranty of 4 years/48,000 miles. Analysis of part sales data found evidence of continued failures that may be related to the alleged defect after the warranty period, with 5,487 rear spoilers sold through May 2020. The number of spoiler sales related to the alleged defect is unknown.On October 8, 2020, JLR submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a defect in the adhesive bonding system of the rear spoiler covers in approximately 21,834 MY 2010 through 2011 Range Rover Sport vehicles manufactured from April 27, 2009 through March 28, 2011 (NHTSA Recall 20V-623, JLR Recall N499). JLR?s report states that the recalled vehicles have a bonding agent that has insufficient adhesive properties. After numerous heat cycles the spoiler cover may begin to loosen from air turbulence experienced during high-speed driving. If a loosened spoiler cover is not detected and repaired, the cover may detach from the vehicle while driving and become an airborne road hazard. Detachments are most likely to occur during high-speed driving. JLR's recall remedy will apply a new adhesive to properly secure the upper spoiler cover.This investigation is closed based on Recall 20V-623. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ID numbers:10984653, 11192264.